What will You Be Looking for from Your Favorite Skaters?

[Buttercup]

For everyone to stay healthy goes without saying...

Joubert - should stop tinkering with his LPs; also needs to stop talking about doing three quads, and go back to actually doing two LP quads; that's the better strategy for him. I'd love for him to win Euros again, and of course the OGM.
In fact, if all the medalists in the men's are skaters who've been in the sport for a while, that would be really cool. The younger guys can get their hardware in Sochi. Which brings me to...
Tomas (senior debut: 2002) - must realize that he can do all his triples in the LP and not pop any jumps! Also, keep doing a quad in the short. A medal of any color would be great.
KvdP (who, like Plushy and Joubert, skated at SLC and Torino) - do a 3-3-3. Have fun. Don't try to fit the programs to the judging system; he's just not the kind of skater it's designed for. Medal at Euros by .05 of a point, just because it would be funny .
Jeremy Abbott - stay fit and mentally strong for an entire season.
Yannick Ponsero - stop being a headcase!!!!
Denis Ten - keep skating beautifully. The PCS will go up.
Johnny Weir - come out with programs that are interesting and skate them well.
I prefer both Johnny and Jeremy to Evan, so I'd like to see them skate as well as they can and finish higher than him.

Caro - I hope she'll get her confidence back, enjoy skating her programs, and maybe telegraph her jumps a bit less? It would be great if she medal in Vancouver with two good skates. Or even one good program.
Leonova - the tech is there, she obviously loves to skate; now work on the polish. A medal at Euros and top 5 at Olys would be nice.

Shen/Zhao - skate as they are capable of and win the OGM, or at least a silver. Just not another bronze.
Savchenko/Szolkowy - skate interesting programs and win a medal, even the OGM if that's warranted.
Zhangs or M/T - have an LP as good as their 2008-9 SPs. Win Worlds with that, since all the Olympic medalists will likely skip it.
Volosozhar/Morozov - can we just give her a medal? I want them to skate two clean programs with all the tech they can do so that Tatiana finally gets a medal in a major event, if not at Olys than at Worlds.
James/Bonheur - keep improving, get into the top ten at the Olympics and higher at Worlds.

Pechalat/Bourzat - this is mean to say, but I hope for their sake Isabelle and Olivier do not skate at the Olympics. Other than that, keep being original, stop making stupid mistakes in early season events, and win a medal in Vancouver.
Kerrs - John's twizzles are still a scary thing. So fix that, keep being original, too, and win some medals before retiring!
Zaretskis - should avoid letting Galit Chait turn them into C/S version 2.0. And please don't do Hava Nagila as the OD.
Samuelson/Bates - keep improving, try to get away from generic choreo.

 

[Daniel5555]

I won't be looking for anything particular, but I'm sure that Yuna will improve everything she can, starting from spirals and maybe that problematic 3Lo.
Overall I hope that every skater will improve and stay healthy.

 

[elanna]

For everyone to stay healthy goes without saying...

Joubert - should stop tinkering with his LPs; also needs to stop talking about doing three quads, and go back to actually doing two LP quads; that's the better strategy for him. I'd love for him to win Euros again, and of course the OGM.
Tomas (senior debut: 2002) - must realize that he can do all his triples in the LP and not pop any jumps! Also, keep doing a quad in the short. A medal of any color would be great.

Nicely phrased, so true!

 

[NatachaHatawa]

For everyone to stay healthy goes without saying...

Joubert - should stop tinkering with his LPs; also needs to stop talking about doing three quads, and go back to actually doing two LP quads; that's the better strategy for him. I'd love for him to win Euros again, and of course the OGM.
In fact, if all the medalists in the men's are skaters who've been in the sport for a while, that would be really cool. The younger guys can get their hardware in Sochi. Which brings me to...
Tomas (senior debut: 2002) - must realize that he can do all his triples in the LP and not pop any jumps! Also, keep doing a quad in the short. A medal of any color would be great.
KvdP (who, like Plushy and Joubert, skated at SLC and Torino) - do a 3-3-3. Have fun. Don't try to fit the programs to the judging system; he's just not the kind of skater it's designed for. Medal at Euros by .05 of a point, just because it would be funny .
Jeremy Abbott - stay fit and mentally strong for an entire season.
Yannick Ponsero - stop being a headcase!!!!
Denis Ten - keep skating beautifully. The PCS will go up.
Johnny Weir - come out with programs that are interesting and skate them well.
I prefer both Johnny and Jeremy to Evan, so I'd like to see them skate as well as they can and finish higher than him.

.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Andalusia]

Caroline: That she's the opposite of the skater we saw at the start of last season.

Kimmie: Posture, etc. has improved. Just please, please stand up on the jumps and have no downgrades.

Alissa: Landing just 7 clean triples in one entire competition would be good enough.

Miki: Drop the quad and 3R combos. Actual artistic choreography would be nice, too.

Mao: Keep the floatiness and have music that is challenging without being monotonous. There's no need to be Superwoman in terms of the jumps, too.

Laura and Sarah: Organic artistry seems to be inherent in the European ladies. Try to be consistent even whilst upping the ante technically.

Armin: I just like him; I don't know why! His only SP on YouTube was interesting and the music choice was unique, too. Please do well in all planned competitions.

Jeremy: Get the 3A consistent and land quads. Get used to the expectations and avoid having meltdowns. No more monkey faces in the K & C, too, please.

Johnny: Be a fashion model or a figure skater. Take your pick.

Superchan: His skating is good, but the overscoring grates on me. If he really lays it all down in future events, maybe I wouldn't mind so much. Keep a lid on the juvenile comments, too.

Shen/Zhao: win, Win, WIN IT ALL!

 

[Danale]

This is fun:
Men
What Medusa said
And:
Joubert – win LP with three quads, win Olympic gold!
Verner – control nerves
Rippon – make your mark in the seniors

Women
Sasha – be healthy, show up, justify comeback.
Kostner – control nerves, enough cracking in money time
Miki – Olympic gold

Pairs
S/S – Olympic gold
Shen/Zhao – justify comeback – higher then bronze!

Dance
Zaretskis – top 10 in Vancouver! More complexity, and no Hava Nagila (I’m too late, I know).
Pechelat/Bourzat – step up and prove you’re number one French dance team!

And health to all!

 

[Danale]

Zaretskis - ... And please don't do Hava Nagila as the OD.

:thumbsup:

 

[hongligl]

Lady:

Yu-Na Kim skates a clean LP that would surpass her Lark Ascending LP, another superb SP and get OMG.

Mao Assada get more fire, more drama and skate two beautiful programs with 2 3As and 3-3 and get OMG.

Joannie Rochette stick to the podium with two clean programs with at least a 3-3 and better artistry. I'd like to see her head and upper body move better, and her whole body movement with more rhythm.

Mirai Nagasu skate well, with power, speed and freshness.

Yukari Nagano does a 3A and two beautiful programs with speed,spark, and great spin. It would be too much to ask her drop the wrapping leg I guess.

At least somebody from China goes to olympics, please.

Men:

Too many to list, but here it goes:

Patrick Chan gets his quad, and three reliable 3As. He has anything else. Maybe a program with a different style if he could.

The three Japaness guys all healthy and give us three different styles and 6 great programs, and Oda to learn counting his jumps.

Jeremy Abbot skates to his ability and be consistent.

Adam to show off his boyish charm.

Johnny Weir put everything on the table and skate two technically strong and memorable programs.

Danis Ten make another splash.

Plushinko and Jobert fighter with the young generation with power and poise.

Thomas Vener skate two great programs.

Kevin Roynold(?) of Canada, the quads boy, learn to skate and perform so that he can do great things.( not actually on my favourite list yet)

Some Chinese guy come out and make a miracle, with quads and good performance.

Pair:

S/Z in their best ever form and two great programs and finally win an OGM.

Pang/Tong get all jumps and win an OM.

S/S skate at least one program that I'd like to watch again and again (they were on my favourite list, but I feel estranged with them because of their lack of connection and the overrating by judges although I know it's not their fault.) I'd like to see her correct her throw triple flip landing free leg position. It's a pain to watch it . I hope it has not been considered as innovated landing and get plus GOE

Zhang/Zhang get all their jumps crispy sharp, better artistry in the LP.

Megan Duhamel/Craig Butun skate more like a pair and more refined.

D/D have more fire in their skating and be technically stronger.

M/T skate a clean LP.

 

[~tapdancer]

Evan L. - Olympic Gold

Davis and White - win US Nats again, have a great season as before, and an Olympic medal would be amazing.

Duhamal/Buntin - win Canadians, good showing at Olympics (top 5 or better)

McLaughlin/Brubaker - get back the good form, exciting programs and a run for the medals at Olympics

Sasha - show the world you really do have the goods

Michelle - I would just be in heaven to see her skate again

Shen/Zhao - Olympic gold

 

[bellarina]

I'm hoping for no underrotations from Mao, Mirai, and Kimmie. Hope Mirai can express a more mature program, though I wouldn't mind seeing a joyful, fun one (but only one!) Hope Mao will find that joy and competitive spirit once again and skate as freely and expressively as she did at WTT. I'm hoping for that triple lutz, and full credit for the triple axels, and of course no injuries. Also hope Kimmie gets her jumps back and that, no matter what happens, she enjoys herself. I hope Yu-Na stays healthy, now that her team has learned the best strategy in terms of her training. I hope she pays attention to her spiral and spin positions, making them as extended and beautiful as possible.

I've never been a hardcore fan during an Olympic season, so I'm extremely excited. It seems like everyone is going to give it their all; it's going to be amazing to see. I just hope everyone brings it, especially during the Olympics, so that whoever wins, they'll know they won against the best. (Couldn't help sneaking that Bring It On reference in there! )

 

[Kwanford Wife]

This is a great topic - thanks to Joe for posting my ponderings... I love it when my desire for someone to read my mind comes to fruition...

Since I am never the best person to discuss CoP and specific technical aspects, I've limited my response to my emotional needs vs. this edge or that... I'll leave the actual factual math & moves to the experts...

From the entire field, across disciples:

I'm looking for all the contenders to skate like their lives depended upon it... I want to see passionate, clean, technically sound programs with a spark. Interesting chero, flattering costumes and cool music. No Carmen! That's not too much to ask is it?

From specific skaters:

Joubert: Its your time sweetheart. Stick to the program. Stay healthy. Nail your jumps. Bring that inner fire and swagger to the ice. Do not give the judges any reason NOT to give you that OGM.

Miki: Rotate those jumps. Showcase your power. Showcase that va-va-vroom thing you have. Make it special. Make it clean. Make it yours. Don't get caught up in JFS politics. Fight, Miki, just fight.

Tanith & Ben: Its now or never. Stop imitating Russian teams from years long past and showcase that American "thing" you have oodles and oodles of...

Shen & Xhao: Just be on the sceen and I'll be happy.

Yuna: Work on that spiral. Stay healthy. Skate like you did at Worlds. Give me chills again & make me a fan for life.

Mao: Remember when you burst on the stage? Skate like that. Get better music. Fix that lutz. Remember there are more jumps than the axel. If you've lost it, don't do it. If you haven't, rotate it. Skate the program beginning, middle, and end. I love to watch you jump, but does everything have to be after the bonus? Show us your passion. MAKE us root for you. You have the talent.

Kimmie & Emily: Remember three years ago, when we were told you'd be ones to watch? Well, prove 'em right. Alyssa - same for you!

Johnny: Less drama. More skating.

US Ladies: Please please please skate clean.

Sasha & Plushy: Just come back. I don't really care what you do on the ice, I just want to see you skate. "grudge those who grude it!" anne bolyne

Michelle: Please? Pretty please? With Junior Mints on top? I'll eat chicken for a month...

 

[1795]

ice dance:

delobel/ schoenfelder: a cute baby from isabelle, more innovative lifts, 1795- approved music, improved spin, incorporation of their signature move, winning sweep at grand prix series + final, claim europe once more, take back worlds, and oh....olympic gold.

crone/ poirier: music choice!, cute costumes, no more stationary rotational lifts, complexity in footwork, a more serious approach in general, medals at grand prix

blanc/ bouquet: new lifts, higher placement, better costumes

cappelini/ lanotte: milestone improvement due to coaching change, different approach to programs - character, new lifts

belbin/ agosto: no injuries, a decent/ non-tacky ALL AMERICAN OD!, a respectably suitable FD, more split lifts (belbin), repeat silver olympics

davis/ white: an FD better than their samson and delilah ( is that too much to ask? haha) 2 sets of twizzles in FD, a youthful take on the OD

samuelson/ bates: no more safina-esque music please! no more modern piano!

mens:

abbott: stay consistent, sell your programs, quad, amazing choreo

joubert: don't want it too much - i know it's yours - no lame music choices, better costumes, 3 quad FS, classy footwork not an exhibition

mroz: press repeat on nationals, develop a personality on ice, non cliche music, relax.

lutai: beat voronov!

ladies:

kim: gold

lepisto: 3-3 always, focus, NEW FS!

korpi: stay hot, medal!

pairs:

mukhortova/ trankov: lead russia, stay consistent, increase complexity in program, stay ice cold

shen/ zhao: make me cry

 

[i love to skate]

crone/ poirier: music choice!, cute costumes, no more stationary rotational lifts, complexity in footwork, a more serious approach in general, medals at grand prix

Just curious as to why you don't like their rotational lifts? That is one of my favorite elements of their programs!

 

[1795]

Just curious as to why you don't like their rotational lifts? That is one of my favorite elements of their programs!

stationary?....you can't really (or hard to)....build on it....to increase points
nice to see but....they've always done it...unless its their "signature"

 

[i love to skate]

stationary?....you can't really (or hard to)....build on it....to increase points
nice to see but....they've always done it...unless its their "signature"

Ooops! Of course I meant stationary. I think it may be one of their signature moves, and they vary it each year. Anyways, I was just curious!

 

[Kinga]

Pairs:
S/Z - win the OGM. Make me feel that I don't want to give up on pairs.
V/M - few medals this season! After the season is over Tatiana pairs up with Smirnov

Dance:
Del/Sch to win gold.
Kerrs, to be more appreciated by judges

Ladies:
Sarah Meier to medal at the olympics or Worlds. Go girl! You are the most charming and elegant on ice. You bring the true emotions to your programs

Racheal Flatt - to develop a wonderful style. Great transition to an artist. She has everything to do that.

Men:
I just want a great great battle between the guys.

 

[Medusa]

After the season is over Tatiana pairs up with Smirnov

Oh yes! But then Tatiana wouldn't have a brilliant twist anymore. (if triple twists don't work, that's mainly the fault of the man, isn't it? anybody knowledgable about this?) Nevertheless, I would love to see that.

 

[merrybari]

Men:
I just want a great great battle between the guys.

I agree, and I believe that's pretty much a sure thing. :agree:

Ladies:
Alissa - that she has her head in the game and sticks those jumps. She has everything else, imo

Rachel - adds ease and flow to the technical. Up to now she has always looked a bit "stiff" to me

Caroline - that judges reward what she does. Otherwise keep doing what she's doing.

Mirai - that she has overcome her growth spurt issues and takes what Frank gives her to the next level

Yu-Na - no injuries

Mao - realization of potential. She sometimes looks a bit stiff to me too, for some reason I can't quite put my finger on. Needs the joy back.

Dance:
Tanith/Ben: stellar performances that reward all the years of hard work and dedication.

Meryl/Charlie: continue on the path they're on. Such fun, ease and glide always a pleasure to see. Everyone should have as much fun out there as they do.

Tessa/Scott: Music that suits their style as well as I thought "Umbrellas" did.

Pairs:
Shen/Zhao(sp?): Just to see them back will be a treat!

Keeanu/Rockne: overcome the issues of last season and get the joy back. Stop thinking and just do

Kaydee/Jeremy: keep on doing what they're doing.

Men:
Evan - Keep the momentum going to put all the tools he's been adding to his arsenal together since Torino for the skates of his life! NO INJURIES!! May his patience and persistence and hard work pay off bigtime!! On the podium at the very least. Top spot would be best!

Ryan - that he tames down some of those wild, free-flying jumps and adds a bit of finesse to his programs.

Denis Ten - Build on his success at worlds.

Patrick - that work on his quad doesn't derail the other things he's already doing so well.

Brian - stop second guessing his programs and just skate the plan.

Maybe this needs a thread of its own, but what do we expect/hope for from the judges and callers?

Stop the knit-picking on edge calls and URs, and reward the overall performance too.

That they reward the skaters based on what they do THAT DAY, not on pre-conceived notions or political sensibilities. I know this is a lot to ask

From ISU: that they stop changing the rules every other minute and let the skaters skate.

 

[Buttercup]

Maybe this needs a thread of its own, but what do we expect/hope for from the judges and callers?

Definitely. I hope that the judges and technical callers:
1. will not use GOEs to reward competence. An element that is clean but no more than that should not merit +GOEs.
2. Stop screwing younger, lesser known skaters with the PCS. If they skate well, they deserve the marks.
3. Won't be too harsh in calling illegal dance lifts.
4. ISU: stop emphasizing upper body movement for step sequence levels, and focus on rewarding difficult and creative footwork and good posture.

 

[janetfan]

Definitely. I hope that the judges and technical callers:
ISU: stop emphasizing upper body movement for step sequence levels, and focus on rewarding difficult and creative footwork and good posture.

I agree with you about the step sequence. I have expressed a similar pov several times and to my surprise nobody has attacked my less than enthusiastic appreciation for some of the stop and go convoluted movements we see in certain step sequences.
I guess it would take a rule change or new description from ISU before we see a change though.